AREED seeks to develop new sustainable energy enterprises that use clean, efficient, and renewable energy technologies to meet the energy needs of under-served populations, thereby reducing the environmental and health consequences of existing energy use patterns.

The AREED approach offers rural energy entrepreneurs a combination of enterprise development services and start-up financing. This integrated financial and technical support allows entrepreneurs to plan and structure their companies in a manner that prepares them for growth and makes eventual investments by mainstream financial partners less risky.

The AREED initiative has now begun operations in Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania. UNEPs partners in AREED include E+Co and the UNEP Colaborating Center on Energy and the Environment (URC). The project is financed by the United Nations Foundation.

Please see the AREED Website for more information.